Latent Profiles of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Parents of children with developmental disabilities tend to experience high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress due to caregiving burdens, social stigma, and social inadequacies. This study aimed to identify psychological distress profiles based on parents’ levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and to examine whether parent gender and the type of the child's disability predict membership in these profiles. The study was conducted with the participation of 335 parents of children with developmental disabilities, and Latent Profile Analysis was performed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)-21 scale. The analysis identified three profiles: High Psychological Distress, Moderate Psychological Distress, and Low Psychological Distress. Findings showed that mothers were more likely than fathers to belong to the high distress profile. Additionally, parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder experienced higher levels of psychological distress compared to parents of children with intellectual disabilities. The results indicate that depression, anxiety, and stress are not homogeneously distributed among parents and emphasize the need to tailor intervention programs according to individual risk levels. In this context, it is highlighted that services and supports for parents should be implemented through multilayered support models that take into account gender roles and the type of disability.